Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure relates in general to a field of metallurgy. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to an assembly employed to measure trajectory of burden inside a blast furnace. Further, embodiments of the disclosure, disclose an enclosure assembly for the trajectory measurement device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Iron making is a process that is performed in a blast furnace and may be considered to be a leading process for providing steel making raw materials. Operation performed inside the blast furnace is considered as black boxes. This is due to the fact that implementation of any direct measurement technique inside the blast furnace is hindered by harsh conditions inside the blast furnace. The blast furnace being mother plant for an integrated steel plant, any disturbance in the blast furnace may drastically and adversely affect overall production.

Several factors influence operations of the blast furnace, out of all the factors profile distribution of surface of burden inside the blast furnace is a most important factor that is to be measured. Such burden profile distribution helps in modulating burden charging sequences to increase productive efficiency and reducing power resource consumption. Also, knowledge of changing burden profile distribution of burden material in the blast furnace is a valuable aid in improving the stability and control of furnace operation. The burden profile distribution is directly influenced by gas permeability, which is the result of the charging angle juxtaposition. With uniform gas permeability, iron-making productivity and furnace campaign life are incremented in a high heat utilization furnaces. It is required to achieve an accurate measurement of the burden profile distribution without gas leakage risks. However, with high temperatures and pressure and hostile atmosphere, both performance and life cycle of the installed mechanisms for measurements may be affected negatively. It may be particularly difficult to understand the distribution of burden materials because of the complex behavior of particular materials.

Obtaining a burden profile distribution for the blast furnace at an elevated accuracy, resolution and high data throughput is a demanding task in research field of metallurgy. Many techniques for performing measurement of the burden profile distribution include installing multiple units with mechanical movement. However, engineering costs of such techniques are prohibitive. Some of the conventional techniques depend on mathematical models and approximations to operate the blast furnace. Such modelling methods to measure the burden profile distribution may be implemented using physical experimental method or mechanism-based method or data-driven method. Further, building compact size prototypes for measuring the burden profile distribution have lacked the accuracy because of situations such as charging of burden in real-time, high temperature environment and so on.

Some non-contact methods including vision-based methods, interferometry, as well as time-of-flight technique are also implemented in the art to measure the burden profile distribution. In that, the time-of-flight technique uses laser light and microwave for the measurement. An aperture is drilled or defined in a wall of the blast furnace for accommodating a sensor which transmits and receives infrared laser rays. The sensor transmits the infrared laser rays in the form of sensing planes and the material falling though the sensing planes causes the transmitted infrared laser rays to be reflected back. The reflected rays are received by the sensor and the trajectory of the falling material is subsequently measured. However, due to nature of the laser light, measurements using such techniques can be performed at scheduled shutdowns during which time, dust intensity inside the blast furnace is reduced.

Application of measuring technologies using hardware components placed inside the furnace have been hindered by the harsh conditions in the blast furnaces. During the operation of the blast furnace, material powders are stirred by up-rising hot blast, lasers may not be feasible for dusty environment. The dust often tends to accumulate in the provision defined for housing the sensor and the accumulated dust prevents the effective transmission of the infrared laser rays from the sensor.

Present disclosure is directed to solve one or more limitation stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional arts.

The information disclosed in this background of the disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by an assembly and a method as disclosed and additional advantages are provided through the assembly and the method as described in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, an enclosure assembly for a trajectory measurement device equipped in a blast furnace is disclosed. The assembly includes an enclosure body defining an opening, where the enclosure body is receivable in an aperture defined in a wall of the blast furnace. Further, a glass shield enclosing the opening of the enclosure body from one end is provided, where the trajectory measurement device is supported in the enclosure body behind the glass shield. A metallic casing is fixed to the enclosure body and is configured to surround a portion of the glass shield such that the glass shield is supported on the enclosure body. Further, the trajectory measurement device measures the trajectory of a burden profile distribution by transmitting and receiving signals through the glass shield.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the assembly includes a hood supported by the enclosure body and projecting on top of the metallic casing. The hood is structured to prevent the impact of falling charge to the glass shield.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, at least a portion of the glass shield facing the blast furnace is covered with hydrophobic coating to prevent deposition of moisture.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the assembly includes a cooling mechanism which is structured to maintain the enclosure within a pre-determined temperature limit.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling mechanism includes a first cooling circuit with at least one first inlet pipe and at least one first outlet pipe configured along a circumference of the enclosure body where, coolant is circulated through the first cooling circuit. Further, the cooling mechanism includes a second cooling circuit provided with at least one second inlet pipe and at least one second outlet pipe configured proximal to the trajectory measurement device within the enclosure body.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the mechanism includes a cleaning element supported by the enclosure body. The cleaning element is oriented towards the glass shield, where the cleaning element is configured to selectively spray a fluid onto the surface of the glass shield to flush out foreign particles accumulated on the surface of the glass shield.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning element includes a nozzle and a fluid supply pipe channel connecting the nozzle and a fluid source. The nozzle is oriented at an angle with respect to the glass shield such that fluid impacting the surface of glass shield is parallel to the surface of glass shield.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a tilting mechanism for supporting the trajectory measurement device is provided in the enclosure body. The tilting mechanism is structured to vary orientation of the trajectory measurement device for transmitting and receiving signals along different planes.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the metallic casing is separated by a pre-determined distance from the glass shield and the distance between the metallic casing and the glass shield is packed with an insulating material.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a blast furnace with a system for measuring trajectory of falling burden, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of an enclosure assembly for a trajectory measurement device equipped in the blast furnace system, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a detailed view of a glass shield in the enclosure assembly shown in Fig. 2, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates a detailed view of an outer surface of the glass shield in the enclosure assembly shown in Fig. 3, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the enclosure assembly for a trajectory measurement device equipped in a blast furnace illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other devices for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, as to its organization, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such mechanism. In other words, one or more elements in the device or mechanism proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the mechanism.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses an enclosure assembly for a trajectory measurement device equipped in a blast furnace. Application of measuring technologies using hardware components placed inside the blast furnace have been hindered by the harsh operating conditions in the blast furnaces. During the operation of the blast furnace, material powders are stirred by up-rising hot blast, lasers may not be feasible for dusty environment. The dust often tends to accumulate in the provision defined for housing the sensor and the accumulated dust prevents the effective transmission of the infrared laser rays from the sensor. Further, the sensors for transmitting the infrared laser rays are operational only under a certain range of temperatures. The harsh environment and high temperatures inside the blast furnace often render these sensors which transmit the infrared laser rays as inoperable.

Accordingly, the present disclosure discloses an enclosure assembly for a trajectory measurement device equipped in a blast furnace. The assembly includes an enclosure body defining an opening, where the enclosure body is receivable in an aperture defined in a wall of the blast furnace. Further, a glass shield enclosing the opening of the enclosure body from one end is provided, where the trajectory measurement device is supported in the enclosure body behind the glass shield. A metallic casing is fixed to the enclosure body and is configured to surround a portion of the glass shield such that the glass shield is supported on the enclosure body. Further, the trajectory measurement device measures the trajectory of a burden profile distribution by transmitting and receiving signals through the glass shield. A hood supported by the enclosure body and projecting on top of the metallic casing is provided, where the hood is structured to prevent the impact of falling charge to the glass shield. Further, at least a portion of the glass shield facing the blast furnace is covered with hydrophobic coating to prevent deposition of moisture. The enclosure assembly is provided with a cooling mechanism that is structured to maintain the enclosure within a pre-determined temperature limit. The enclosure assembly also includes a cleaning element supported by the enclosure body. The cleaning element is oriented towards the glass shield, and the cleaning element is configured to selectively spray a fluid onto the surface of the glass shield to flush out foreign particles accumulated on the surface of the glass shield. Further, a tilting mechanism for supporting the trajectory measurement device is provided in the enclosure body. The tilting mechanism is structured to vary orientation of the trajectory measurement device for transmitting and receiving signals along different planes.

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a blast furnace (100) with a system (200) for measuring trajectory of a burden profile distribution. The system (200) may be implemented in an exemplary environment comprising the blast furnace (100) or a smelting vessel. The blast furnace (100) is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting. The blast furnace (100) may be a vertical furnace that produces liquid metal by reaction of a flow of air introduced under pressure into bottom of the blast furnace (100) with a mixture of materials fed from the top. The mixture may include, but is not limited to, at least one of metallic ore, coke, limestone, hematite, and flux. The mixture may be termed as “burden” or “charge”.

Studies on operation of the blast furnace (100) includes measurement or determination of charge level distribution shape (also termed as burden profile distribution) inside the blast furnace (100). Such measurement may be used to effectively control gas injection into the blast furnace (100) and smooth operation of the blast furnace (100). Therefore, measurement of the burden profile distribution is an important step of automated operation of the blast furnace (100). The measuring of the burden profile distribution includes accurately obtaining burden shape information in real-time. The disclosed system (200) is configured to accurately obtain the trajectory of the burden material charged in the blast furnace (100) without affecting the operations of the blast furnace (100).

The blast furnace (100) may include a rotating chute (14) that is configured to introduce various materials into the blast furnace (100). The rotation of the rotating chute (14) may be configured to introduce the materials in a pre-defined manner. Further, the blast furnace (100) may be drilled to define a through hole or aperture along a throat section. The aperture may be configured to accommodate the system (200) for measuring the trajectory burden material falling through rotary chute. The system (200) may be firmly mounted in the aperture of the blast furnace (100). The system (200) includes an enclosure (A) and a trajectory measurement device (15). The trajectory measurement device (15) is removably housed inside the enclosure (A). The system (200) may be mounted such that the trajectory measurement device (15) of the system (200) is oriented towards the interior or the core of the blast furnace (100). The trajectory measurement device (15) may be configured to transmit and receive signals in the interior of the blast furnace (100). In some embodiments, the trajectory measurement device (15) may transmit infrared laser rays along a given plane (P) which may encompass the overall internal area along the throat section of the blast furnace (100). The material falling through the chute (14) into the blast furnace (100) may intersect or passes through the sensing plane (P). Consequently, the transmitted infrared laser rays defining the sensing plane (P) are intersected by the trajectory of the falling material and the infrared laser rays are reflected back by the falling material. The trajectory measurement device (15) is configured to receive the reflected rays from the surface of the burden or the falling material. The trajectory measurement device (15) may be electronically coupled to a processing unit 103. The reflected rays received by the trajectory measurement device (15) may be provided to the processing unit 103 for processing and measuring the trajectory of the burden profile distribution inside the blast furnace (100). Further, the enclosure assembly (A) houses the trajectory measurement device (15) and shields the trajectory measurement device (15) from the harsh environment of the blast furnace (100). The configuration of the enclosure (A) is explained in greater detail below with reference to Fig. 2. In an embodiment, multiple system (200) for measuring the trajectory of the burden profile may be configured to the blast furnace (100).

Referring now to Fig. 2 which illustrates a schematic representation of the enclosure assembly (A) for the trajectory measurement device (15) equipped in the blast furnace (100). The enclosure assembly (A) includes an enclosure body (3) defining an opening. The enclosure body (3) houses the trajectory measurement device (15). The enclosure body (3) is housed inside the aperture drilled in the wall of the blast furnace (100). The enclosure body (3) may extend along an axis that is perpendicular to a vertical axis of the blast furnace (100). The enclosure body (3) may be of a circular shape and one end of the enclosure body (3) may be defined with a flange. The other end of the enclosure body (3) may partially extend into the interior of the blast furnace (100). The enclosure body (3) is housed inside the aperture such that the one end of the enclosure body (3) that is defined with the flange lies outside or exterior to the blast furnace (100). Whereas the other end of the enclosure body (3) may be configured to partially extend into the blast furnace (100). The end of the enclosure body (3) is defined with the flanges that may be provided with an end plate (17). The end plate (17) may be removably coupled to the enclosure body (3) such that the one end of the enclosure body (3) is sealed. The end plate (17) may be connected to the enclosure body (3) by nuts and bolts or any other fasteners known in the art. The connection between the end plate (17) and the enclosure body (3) may be provided with suitable sealing rings to prevent toxic fumes and other gases from the blast furnace (100) from escaping into the atmosphere. Further, the region of the enclosure body (3) that extends into the blast furnace (100) may be configured to be only of a semi-circular shape. The semi-circular shape of the enclosure body (3) may be configured only to the upper region of the enclosure body (3). The enclosure body (3) that extends into the blast furnace (100) may be provided with a hood (2) that encompasses the central and lower regions of the enclosure assembly (A) exposed to the interior of the blast furnace (100). The hood (2) protects the central and lower regions of the enclosure assembly (A) from the material falling through the chute (14). The semi-circular shape of the enclosure body (3) that extends into the blast furnace (100) and the hood (2) configured to the enclosure body (3) ensure that the material from chute (14) slide over the semicircular surface of the enclosure body (3) into the blast furnace (100). In an embodiment, the enclosure assembly (A) may be of a rectangular shape or any other suitable shape. The aperture defined in the throat section of the blast furnace (100) may be configured with a shape that is similar to the enclosure assembly (A).

The enclosure assembly (A) also includes a support member (3s). The support member (3s) may be configured to extend in a direction perpendicular to the enclosure body (3) and in an embodiment, may be an integral part of the enclosure body (3). The support member (3s) may be configured to the enclosure body (3) to lie in flush with the internal surface of the blast furnace (100). The support members 3s may be configured to partially define the internal surface of the blast furnace (100). The enclosure assembly (A) also includes a glass shield (1). The glass shield may be abutted against the support members 3s and the glass shield (1) may be configured to partially extend into the blast furnace (100). The trajectory measurement device (15) is housed on the support member (3s) such that the trajectory measurement device (15) is proximal to an inner surface of the glass shield (1). The glass shield (1) of the enclosure assembly (A) may be resistant to very high temperatures and allows for an uninterrupted transmission and reception of the infrared laser rays from the trajectory measurement device (15).

The glass shield (1) may also be configured with a metallic casing (11). The metallic casing (11) may be configured to partially encompass an outer surface of the glass shield (1) [seen from Fig. 3]. The metallic casing (11) acts as an additional layer of protection for the glass shield (1). The metallic casing (11) may be configured around the glass shield (1) such that an opening or slit S may be defined radially along a substantially central region of the glass shield (1) [seen from Fig. 2]. The glass shield (1) is directly exposed to the inner surface of the blast furnace (100) through the slit S defined by the metallic casing (11). The transmission and reception of the infrared laser rays by the trajectory measurement device (15) may occur through the glass shield (1) only along the slit S defined by the metallic casing (11). Further, a space (G) of pre-determined thickness is defined between an inner surface of the metallic casing (11) and the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The space (G) between the metallic casing (11) and the glass shield (1) may be filled with insulating material including but not limiting to glass wool (i) which reduces the heat transfer from the blast furnace (100) to the glass shield (1). The hood (2) may be configured such that the metallic casing (11) and the glass shield (1) are press-fitted against the support members 3s. The glass shield (1) may also be connected using bolts and nuts or any other connecting means known in the art. The glass shield (1) is often exposed to harsh environmental conditions inside the blast furnace (100) and the outer surface of the glass shield (1) is provided with a hydrophobic coating (a) to prevent the deposition of moisture. The hydrophobic coating (a) may also be antistatic in nature for preventing the deposition of statically charged fine dust particles on the outer surface of the glass shield (1).

Fig. 3 illustrates a detailed view of the glass shield (1) in the enclosure assembly (A) and Fig. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the outer surface of the glass shield (1) shown in Fig. 3. The function of the hydrophobic coating (a) is explained with greater detail with reference to the Fig. 4. During the working of the blast furnace (100), a small fraction of the liquid in the blast furnace (100) may condense into liquid droplets on the outer surface of the glass shield (1). These liquid droplets often trickle down all over the outer surface of the glass shield (1). Consequently, the transmission and the reception of the infrared laser rays by the trajectory measurement device (15) may often be interrupted by the layer of liquid deposited on the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The hydrophobic nature of the coating (a) is responsible for an obtuse contact angle of the droplet on the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The hydrophobic coating (a) does not allow the condensed liquid droplet to trickle down all over the outer surface of the glass shield (1). Instead, the hydrophobic coating (a) ensures that the liquid droplet is retained on the outer surface of the glass shield (1) at an obtuse angle. These droplets may easily be carried away by the impacting a jet of fluid on the outer surface of the glass shield (1) and the same is explained with greater detail below.

The dust particles that are blown up during the operation of the blast furnace (100) often tend to get deposited on the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The antistatic nature of the hydrophobic coating (a) is responsible to neutralize the charges of the dust particles that come in contact with the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The charges of the dust particles on the outer surface of the glass shield (1) are drained out to the metallic casing (11) in contact with the glass shield (1) by the hydrophobic coating (a).

With further reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the enclosure assembly (A) also includes a cleaning element (C) that is supported by the enclosure body (3). The cleaning element (C) may be oriented towards the glass shield (1). The cleaning element (C) may include a nozzle (13) and a fluid supply pipe (6) connecting the nozzle (13) and a fluid source. The nozzle (13) is configured to selectively spray a fluid onto the surface of the glass shield (1) to flush out foreign particles accumulated on the surface of the glass shield (1). The operation of the nozzle (13) may be controlled to the processing unit and the nozzle (13) may be configured to spray fluid including but not limiting to nitrogen onto the outer surface of the glass shield (1) to flush out the dust particle and the liquid droplets accumulated on the outer surface of the glass shield (1). As seen from Fig. 2, the nozzle (13) may be oriented at a pre-determined angle ranging from 35 degrees to 40 degrees with respect to the glass shield (1) and the nitrogen is sprayed onto the surface of the glass shield (1) that may include a force component along an X-axis and force component along a Y-axis of the glass shield (1). The nozzle (13) may be oriented at a pre-determined angle with respect to the glass shield (1) such that, the dominating force component i.e., the force component along the Y-axis is parallel to the outer surface of the glass shield (1). The above configuration ensures the effective cleaning of the glass shield (1) and also ensures that a positive pressure is maintained on the outer surface of glass shield (1). In an embodiment, a plurality of nozzles 13 may be placed at strategic locations proximal to the outer surface of the glass shield (1).

Further, the temperature inside the enclosure (A) has to be maintained below a pre-determined limit to create and environment suitable for the operation of the trajectory measurement device (15). Accordingly, the enclosure assembly (A) includes a cooling mechanism (Y) structured to maintain the enclosure (A) within the pre-determined temperature limit. The cooling mechanism (Y) includes a first cooling circuit (Y1) and a second cooling circuit (Y2). The first cooling circuit (Y1) is configured with at least one first inlet pipe (4) and at least one first outlet pipe (8). The first cooling circuit (Y1) may be configured along a circumference of the enclosure body (3). In an embodiment, the first inlet pipes (4) and the first outlet pipes (8) of the first cooling circuit (Y1) may be copper tubes. Further, the first inlet pipes (4) and the first outlet pipes (8) of the first cooling circuit (Y1) may be sandwiched between the sealed annulus walled 5 configuration along the length of enclosure body (3). The first cooling circuit (Y1) may be configured to be in direct contact with enclosure body (3). A fluid or gas including but not limiting to nitrogen may be circulated though the first cooling circuit (Y1) for absorbing the heat along the circumference of the enclosure’s body 3. The cooling mechanism (Y) may also be configured with a second cooling circuit (Y2). The second cooling circuit (Y2) is configured with at least one second inlet pipe (7) and at least one second outlet pipe (10). The second inlet pipe (7) and the second outlet pipe (10) may be configured proximal to the trajectory measurement device (15) within the enclosure body (3). The second cooling circuit (Y2) may be configured to extend along the central region of the enclosure body (3). Coolant may be circulated through the second cooling circuit (Y2) for absorbing the heat along the central area of the enclosure body (3). Thus, the temperature of the enclosure assembly (A) may be maintained within the pre-determined limit that is suitable for the operation of the trajectory measurement device (15). Also, the first cooling circuit (Y1) and the second cooling circuit (Y2) may be configured with non-return valves. The non-return valves prevent the back flow of nitrogen into a main nitrogen stream in case there is pressure drop in the nitrogen line.

The enclosure assembly (A) also includes a tilting mechanism (12) for supporting the trajectory measurement device (15) in the enclosure body (3). With reference to the Fig. 1, the tilting mechanism (12) may be positioned on the support member (3s) of the enclosure assembly (A). The trajectory measurement device (15) mounted in the enclosure generates a sensing plane (P) across the cross-section of blast furnace (100) for measuring the trajectory of the burden profile distribution. The tilting mechanism (12) facilitates the tilting of the trajectory measurement device (15) to transmit infrared laser rays along different sensing plane (P) as shown in Fig. 1. The silt (S) width defined by the metallic casing (11) may be configured for uninterrupted passage of laser rays, to allow the change of tilting plane (P). The tilting mechanism (12) is structured to vary orientation of the trajectory measurement device (15) for transmitting and receiving signals along different planes. The tilting mechanism (12) may be coupled to an actuator for enabling the movement of the tilting action of the mechanism. Further, the actuator may be coupled to the processing unit where the actuator may be actuated for varying the sensing plane and the orientation of the trajectory measurement device (15) after a pre-determined time.

The enclosure assembly (A) may also be provided with a gas seal or gaskets to prevent the escaping of gases from the blast furnace (100). Under extreme conditions, there may exist a scenario where the glass shield (1) is damaged or breaks. The gases from the bast furnace 100 may enter the enclosure assembly (A). The leakage of this gas form enclosure assembly (A) may be prevented by configuring a cable tube (9). The cable tube (9) may extend through the end plate (17) of the enclosure assembly (A). The cable tube (9) may also be configured with a plug barrier gland that accommodates a cable. The cable may extend through the cable tube (9) into the enclosure assembly (A) and may connect the trajectory measurement device (15) to the processing unit. The cable tube (9) may be configured with the plug such that it only accommodates the cable, and the gases are prevented from escaping into the atmosphere.

In an embodiment, the enclosure assembly (A) configured with the high temperature resistant glass shield (1) protects the trajectory measurement device (15) from the harsh operating environment of the blast furnace (100).

In an embodiment, the hydrophobic coating (a) with the antistatic nature of the coating (a) prevents the deposition of dust particles and the liquid droplets on the outer surface of the glass shield (1) and consequently enables the improved transmission and reception of infrared laser rays from the trajectory measurement device (15).

In an embodiment, the cooling mechanism (Y) configured to the enclosure assembly (A) reduces the overall temperature of the enclosure assembly (A) to pre-determined limit that is suitable for the operation of the trajectory measurement device (15).

In an embodiment, the cleaning element (C) with the nozzle (13) sprays fluid onto the outer surface of the glass shield (1) which flushes away the dust particles and the liquid droplets accumulated on the outer surface of the glass shield (1) and enables improved transmission and reception of infrared laser rays from the trajectory measurement device (15).

In an embodiment, the orientation of the nozzle (13) at the pre-determined angle with respect to the glass shield such that dominating force component of the fluid impacting the surface of glass shield (1) is parallel to the surface of glass shield (1), ensures that positive pressure is maintained on the surface of glass shield (1).

In an embodiment, configuring the trajectory measurement device (15) on the tilting mechanism (12) enables the transmission and reception of the infrared laser rays along different planes. Consequently, the falling burden trajectory may be measured along different planes.

Equivalents

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding the description may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated in the description.

Referral Numerals:

Description Referral numeral
Glass shield 1
Hood 2
Enclosure body 3
Support member 3s
First inlet pipe 4, 5
Fluid supply pipe 6
Second inlet pipe 7
First outlet pipe 8
Cable tube 9
Second outlet pipe 10
Metallic casing 11
Tilting mechanism 12
Nozzle 13
Chute 14
Trajectory measurement device 15
Falling burden trajectory 16
End plate 17
First cooling circuit Y1
Second cooling circuit Y2
Enclosure assembly A
Space between the metallic casing and the glass shield G
Glass wool i
Blast furnace 100
System for measuring trajectory of a burden profile distribution 200

Claims:1. An enclosure assembly (A) for a trajectory measurement device (15) equipped in a blast furnace (100), the assembly (A) comprises:
an enclosure body (3) defining an opening, wherein the enclosure body (3) is receivable in an aperture defined in a wall of the blast furnace (100);
a glass shield (1) enclosing the opening of the enclosure body (3) from one end, wherein the trajectory measurement device (15) is supported in the enclosure body (3) behind the glass shield (1);
a metallic casing (11) fixed to the enclosure body (3) and configured to surround a portion of the glass shield (1) such that the glass shield (1) is supported on the enclosure body (3);
wherein, the trajectory measurement device (15) measures the trajectory of a burden profile distribution by transmitting and receiving signals through the glass shield (1).

2. The assembly (A) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a hood (2) supported by the enclosure body (3) and projecting on top of the metallic casing (11), wherein the hood (2) is structured to prevent the impact of falling charge to the glass shield (1).

3. The assembly (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the glass shield (1) facing the blast furnace (100) is covered with hydrophobic coating to prevent deposition of moisture.

4. The assembly (A) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cooling mechanism (Y) structured to maintain the enclosure (A) within a pre-determined temperature limit.

5. The assembly (A) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cooling mechanism (Y) comprises:
a first cooling circuit (Y1) with at least one first inlet pipe 4 and at least one first outlet pipe (8) configured along a circumference of the enclosure body wherein, coolant is circulated through the first cooling circuit (Y1); and
a second cooling circuit (Y1) with at least one second inlet pipe (7) and at least one second outlet pipe (10) configured proximal to the trajectory measurement device (15) within the enclosure body wherein .